Treatment Options for Kidney Cancer
New targeted therapies may be an
important part of your treatment
Specific treatment for kidney cancer will be determined by your physician based on:
- your age, overall health, and medical history
- extent of the disease
- your tolerance for specific medications, procedures, or therapies
- expectations for the course of the disease
- your opinion or preference
Treatment may include:
- surgery
Surgery to remove the kidney is called a nephrectomy and it is the most common treatment for kidney cancer. The following are different types of nephrectomy procedures:- radical nephrectomy - the whole kidney is removed along with the adrenal gland, tissue around the kidney, and, sometimes, lymph nodes in the area.
- simple nephrectomy - only the kidney is removed
- partial nephrectomy - only the part of the kidney that contains the tumor is removed. The remaining kidney is generally able to perform the work of both kidneys.
- radiation therapy
Radiation therapy uses high-energy x-rays to kill cancer cells, and is also sometimes used to relieve pain when kidney cancer has spread to the bone. - biological therapy (Also called immunotherapy)
Biological therapy is a treatment that uses the body's own immune system to fight cancer, including high-dose interleukin2 (HD-IL2). - chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is the use of drugs to kill cancer cells, administered intravenously or by pill form. These drugs enter your bloodstream and reach all areas of the body, which makes this treatment potentially useful for cancer that has spread (metastasized) to organs beyond the kidney. - targeted therapies
New targeted therapies, which have a more focused mechanism of action than traditional chemotherapy drugs, are being used to treat kidney cancer. These include Avastin® (bevacizumab), Nexavar® (sorafenib), Torisel® (temsirolimus), Afinitor® (everolimus), Sutent® (sunitinib), and Inlyta® (axitinib). A vaccine for treatment also is under study. - arterial embolization
Arterial embolization is a procedure in which small pieces of a special gelatin sponge, or other material, are injected through a catheter to clog the main renal blood vessel. This procedure shrinks the tumor by depriving it of the oxygen-carrying blood and other substances it needs to grow. It may also be used before an operation to make surgery easier, or to provide relief from pain when removal of the tumor is not possible. - cryoablation, or cryotherapy
This technique uses extreme cold to destroy the kidney tumor, and is performed under local anesthesia as an outpatient procedure. A hollow probe (needle) is inserted into the tumor either through the skin or during laparoscopy. Very cold gases are passed through the probe, creating an ice ball that destroys the tumor. Not all tumors are suitable for this approach, and our kidney cancer specialists will discuss the best options for you.
Trial Administration